[SARA-Members] Fw: SAR Alberta - message from SAR Alberta President - July 31

[Reese Wolsey]

I have been requested by President Rodney Dietrich to forward this on to the membership.
Reese Wolsey
Past President SAR Alberta

----- Original Message ----- 
From: RODNEY DIETRICH 
To: Bev Sliger ; dardan at telusplanet.net ; Michelle Maschke ; Reese Wolsey ; sara-board at castrov.cuug.ab.ca 
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 7:37 PM
Subject: SAR Alberta - message from SAR Alberta President - July 31


To the membership of SAR Alberta,
    
Re: in response to the email that Monica sent out on Wednesday July 25, 2007 - SAR Alberta Executive became aware of it on Monday, July 30, 2007.
    
First and foremost SAR Alberta would like to thank all those over the years that have assisted in working towards a lead ministry for SAR Alberta. A lot of time, effort and work has been put in by many people throughout SAR Alberta. The work continues and will for many years to come.

SAR Alberta has learned late today that the AEMA is stepping up to the plate as GSAR lead ministry for Alberta. It is my understanding their was a meeting (in response to Monica's letter to the Premier) between AEMA and the Solicitor General (SAR Alberta was not involved) and a decision was made between these two government departments as to who would best serve search and rescue in Alberta. 

It is true that SAR Alberta Executive met with WCB (Workers Compensation Board), RCMP and AEMA late last week. The meeting was a result of a SAR Alberta meeting with EMA last year in which then President Reese expressed concerns about WCB coverage that we as volunteers have in-light of all activities we perform outside of just searching for the lost person (ie. evidence searches, floods, etc). WCB was the only focus of the meeting and the same presentation will be presented to the board and the membership. Originally I was the only executive member invited - in the end the meeting was attended by all the executive (with the exception on Darrell who had previous commitments) at my request. From what I saw in that meeting was truly a commitment between the RCMP and AEMA on working together for the betterment of search and rescue in Alberta. As a matter of fact the next meeting will include the board as the executive felt that this was the best way to communicate what was being presented (the more involved everybody is, the more everybody is informed).

It is also true that the Alberta Emergency Management Agency falls under Municipal Affairs and Housing and they have reviewed a number of documents that SAR Alberta has sent to the Provincial Government over the years (including those sent to the Solicitor General) - SAR Alberta has no control over these documents once sent to the Provincial Government.

On a side note I attended a ceremony on Monday, July 30 (representing SAR Alberta), highlighting the progress that has been made to the provincial emergency response capabilities since the Edmonton Tornado. I had the opportunity to meet with David Hodgins (managing director of AEMA) and the Fire Commissioner's Office, they both would like to meet and work with SAR Alberta. I mentioned that it would be best if they attended a SAR Alberta board meeting, and the SAR Alberta Executive will work to make this happen.

For the first time in a very long time, I can see commitments being made on the provincial front for SAR in Alberta - this will be a work in progress for SAR Alberta and the Provincial Government in a continually working partnership focused on enhancing SAR in Alberta. 

Rodney Dietrich
SAR Alberta - President
accountinggod at shaw.ca
www.saralberta.org
 
Attachment (s): 
  - Monica's letter to the membership
  - Monica's Letter to the Premier
  - Agenda from the SAR Alberta/RCMP/EMA/WCB meeting
  - Outline of background events
  - Provicial Challenges to SAR in Alberta
  - Email from AEMA
 
Dated - July 31,2007 - 7pm


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